Hit-and-run accident kills Vian woman; driver faces charges

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.

Car accidents can happen anywhere and at any time of the day or night. Oklahomans see their share of car accidents on a regular basis. Some are caused by road or weather conditions, but many others are the result of negligence. When negligence is a factor in a car accident, victims or surviving family members of victims may be entitled to compensation through personal injury or wrongful death claims.

In Vian, nearly 150 miles east of Oklahoma City, one woman recently was killed in an early evening hit-and-run accident that may have been caused by a drunken driver. According to the Vian Police Department, the 55-year-old victim was walking with a friend near the intersection of East Sanders Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard around 7:30 p.m., when a car veered off the road and struck them. According to one witness, the car's headlights were not on when it hit the two women. Other witnesses added that the 74-year-old male driver involved came from a nearby bar and was probably on his way home to Cookson, 15 miles north of Vian, when the accident happened. The driver now faces charges of negligent homicide with motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. If toxicology tests show that he was impaired, he could face additional charges.

When someone dies because of someone else's negligence, surviving family members often feel devastated and want justice for their loved one. They also may seek compensation for their loss. In this type of situation, a wrongful death claim will arise that can bring surviving family members compensation, depending on their losses.

Car accident victims and their families may sue negligent parties for damages or choose to settle to avoid litigation. Either way, the goal is to recover damages that can be used to cover medical expenses and other losses.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.